The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

26 THE TALKING IVIACHINE WORLD. FROM OUR LONDON HEADQUARTERS— i Continued.) TRADE REPORTS FROM THE PROVINCES IIANCHESTEK NOTES. SHEFFIELD NOTES. Manchester, Oct. 5, 1908. There is a great strike of the cotton operatives in the Manchester district, and all the large Lancashire towns, and the trade outlook is gloomy. Over-production, excessive capitalization, on the one side, with reduction of wages desired by the masters, large surplus stocks of goods unsold, have all contributed towards a serious disagreement between the operatives and the masters. The employers' association, which practically all the masters belong to, have decided to close their mills for an indefinite period, because the operatives would not consent to a reduction of 5 per cent, in wages. Without going into the details of the case, the following will give some idea of the colossal strike now on: There are about 540 mills already stopped, about 160 mills at work, but likely to stop within the course of the next fourteen days, while the number of operatives out of work is approximately 120,000 to 140,000. The foregoing represents a capital, at present unremunerative, of £50,000,000 ($250,000,000). The approximate amount of wages lost per week at the present time is £140,000 to £] 50,000. In case of no settlement being arrived at during the next few weeks we shall probably have the number of weavers added to the unemployed, about 200,000 persons, and the total number of operatives will be 320,000. The weekly wage, if this occurs, that will be lost entirely, will be approximately £330,000. Both the masters and the operatives are strongly fortified, with large funds to draw upon, and at the present moment neither seem inclined to yield. In some quarters optimistic views prevail, but it is no good disguising the fact that it would be to the employers' advantage to clear off a lot of their existing surplus stocks previous to recommencing. Lancashire, as is well known, depends upon the cotton industry for its existence, and not only Manchester, but all the large surrounding towns, such as Bury. Rochdale, Oldham, Bolton, Stockport, etc., etc., will feel the disastrous effects of this strike. Referring, however, to Manchester, business has dropped off considerably in the retail trade. Not a single firm state that business is good. Orders are plentiful in a small way from the retailing agents, but money is very tight. Messrs. Duwe, of High street, state that their new catalog will be issued in the course of a week, containing the very latest prices in everything connected with the talking machine trade. Messrs. Burrows, also of High street, say business is fairly brisk. Messrs. Richardson & Co. report sales as good in Zonophone records and machines, especially the Gibson arm No. 1. They have recently taken up the sale of Star machines, and hope to do well with them. Edison and Twin records are also selling well in this house, in addition to which they have taken up the sales of "Klingsor" machines. An exceptionally good line of theirs, which they call the "Trutone," sells to the trade at £3 net. The recent Edison exchange scheme has been much appreciated by dealers, and has enabled them to effect a considerable quantity of business. In addition to the phonograph and disc departments, Messrs. Richardson have a very large wholesale cycle factoring business, both in Manchester and Liverpool. They will Issue their new list in the course of a few days, and there is no doubt that, if the business does come along, Richardson's will get a fair share of it. D. Fraser Watson, Cateaton street, have decided to carry a large stock of Path6 goods again this year, believing that there Is an enormous future for the phono cut disc records. Sheffield, Oct. 4, .l-»08. In Sheffield things have been very quiet. Generally speaking, short time has been in operation for some time in the mills, and altogether the dealers do not report such a gojod ,gea^pn as anticipated. At Messrs. Duwe, 6 Dixon-iane, Mr. Ellis, the manager, informed us that although they were doing a large proportion of the trade in this district, they would have liked the results to have been better. They have recently been making extensive alterations, with a view of carrying a larger stock than hitherto, and Mr. Ellis said that if the operatives had a good winter, with full time, business would be good all round. For the coming season C. Gilbert & Co., of 75 Arundel street, will handle Pathe, Clarion, Columbia and Edison-Bell discs, both the needle and phono cut. In macnines, Mr. Gilbert believes that the cheaper ones will not sell so well as the better class article, and with this idea in view he has' decided not to stock any machines in the future under £3 or £4 retail. Mr. Gilbert says it is no more trouble for the dealer to sell a better-class machine and make a more reasonable profit, besides giving satisfaction to the customer, than it is to sell a cheap, rubbishy article, which is more trouble than it is worth, and which neither gives the dealer a fair profit nor the customer satisfaction. Messrs. Gilbert & Co., doing an entirely wholesale business, handle nothing but talking machine goods. They are, in addition, large manufacturers of flower horns, which they export all over the world. They have recently patented an ingenious arrangement to enable a Gramophone soundbox to be turned round and used with a sapphire needle, to suit phono cut discs. Regarding the future business, the outlool? at present is very poor. Money is exceptionally tight in this district, and although there will no doubt be some trade about, it does not look rosy by any means. At Messrs. Dewhuret's Gramophone Supply Co., the manager, Mr. Sherwood, reports that during the past few months they have sold five instruments at 50 guineas each, and a Gramophone Auxetophone at 100 guineas. Their trade is a good one, and the call principally is for the highest class celebrity records. They have a special salon fitted up for Gramophone records and machines only, this being quite distinct from the cylinder department. They make a special study of keeping customers posted each month, and during the coming season they propose to concentrate upon Gramophone, Zonophone and Twins. They anticipate a fairly good season, principally with better class goods. At P. Primrose & Co., 130 Barker's Pool, we had the pleasure of a chat with Mr. Lee, who was one of the pioneers of the talking machine trade. Commencing to use the phonograph as a scientific invention many years ago, the interest of this firm is not only in selling the very best goods, but in keeping up to date, with all the latest improvements that tend to give better and clearer reproducing effects than hitherto. Messrs. Primrose & Co. handle a good seiection of both machines and records. In cylinder goods they will concentrate upon Edison's, principally. In discs, they are wholesale factors for Messrs. Pathe Preres, in both machines and records. They also have a comprehensive selection of "Apollo" cabinet machines, and they endeavor to be in the front with all the latest goods. At Messrs. Watson's Gramophone stores. High street, business was reported somewhat quiet. They have a good display of Gramophone and other goods. At "The Sheffield Phono Co.," Cambridge Arcade, they expect even better things next season than in the past. In cylinder goods this firm handle Edison, Edison-Bell and Columbia. In discs, their leading lines are Columbia, Zonophone, Twins and Discophone, with machines, of course, to suit. They have recently , introduced a new form of needle, which is called the "Trois," for use on a Gramophone type of machine. Instead of altering the sound box to play a phono-cut pattern disc, it is only necessary to replace the steel needle with a "Trois." Working upon rather an acute angle, we are informed by users that good results are obtained. The price being a nominal one, it should result in large sales. This firm have also, during the past season, placed upon the market a new record reviver. In the form of a powder, it is practically a dry lubricant, and rubbed into the sound grooves of a record, either disc or cylinder, it eliminates to a large extent the frictional surface noise. We believe that it is known in the States under the title of "record food." It is worth a trial by all those who are interested in reproducing a non-scratching record. 44 CLARION 99 FULL LENGTH 10-in. DOUBLE SIDED CYLINDER RECORDS PHONO. CUT DISCS MON EY=M A K E R S All Jobbers and Dealers should get into touch with us. We can interest you. The Premier Manufacturing Co., Ltd. 81 CITY ROAD LONDON, E. C.